Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA07112’

ABSTRACT

A new  Calibrachoa  plant particularly distinguished by a compact to semi-trailing growth habit, blue flower color, very good outdoor performance and a floriferous flowering habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Calibrachoa hybrid.

Variety denomination. ‘KLECA07112’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name.‘KLECA07112’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in summer of 2002 in Stuttgart, Germany. The female parent was the dark-blue-flowered proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘KLEC02070’ (unpatented), while the male parent was the violet-flowered proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘U 37’ (unpatented).

The new cultivar was first propagated in May 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture in Stuttgart, Germany over fifty generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Compact to semi-trailing growth habit;     -   2. Blue flower color;     -   3. Very good outdoor performance; and     -   4. A floriferous flowering habit.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows flowers and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a five-month-old Calibrachoa plant, grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany, between January and May 2007.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLECA07112’. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken on five-month-old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 11-cm pots between January and May 2007 and then grown in a greenhouse. The plants had one terminal pinch one week after potting. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references, are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.—Calibrachoa hybrid.         -   Common.—Calibrachoa. -   Parents:     -   -   Female.—Dark-blue-flowered proprietary Calibrachoa plant             ‘KLEC02070’ (unpatented).         -   Male.—Violet-flowered proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘U 37’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Compact.         -   Habit.—Semi-trailing.         -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—8 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—17 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—11 weeks.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Very healthy, continuous             flowering.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—16 days.         -   Root description.—Moderate density, freely branching, white             roots -   Stems:     -   -   Length of basal branches.—8 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.8 cm to 1.4 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.2 cm to 5 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 145A.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Pedicel.—Color: RHS 144B. Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.             Texture: Smooth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Size.—Length: 1 cm to 3 cm. Width: 0.4 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: RHS 137A.             Lower surface: RHS 137C.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (both surfaces).—RHS 144A.         -   Petiole.—Absent. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Irregular to oblong.         -   Size.—Length: 2 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 86C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous flowering during summertime.         -   Inflorescence type.—Single.         -   Floret type.—Funnel-shaped.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—6 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Immature flower.—Diameter: Horizontal: 2.3 cm. Vertical:             2.3 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 83B. Lower surface: RHS             83D.         -   Mature flower.—Diameter: Horizontal: 2.5 cm. Vertical:             2.5 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 83B. Lower surface: RHS             83C.         -   Corolla tube.—Color inside: RHS 2B. Color outside: RHS 2D.             Tube length: 1.5 cm. Outside texture: Smooth.         -   Petals.—Apex: Obverse. Base: Fused into a tube. Margin:             Entire. Waviness of petals: Weak. Lobation: Weak. Texture             (both surfaces): Smooth.         -   Sepals.—Calyx (form): Rosette. Shape: Lanceolate to             elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Length:             1.3 cm. Width: 0.3 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 138A. Lower             surface: RHS 138B. Texture (both surfaces): Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5. Filament color: RHS 154A. Filament             length: 0.7 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm. Pollen color RHS             11A. Pollen quantity: Abundant.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1. Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Stigma             color RHS 149A. Style color: RHS 149A. -   Fruit and Seed Set: No seed set observed -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘KLECA07112’ differs from the female parent ‘KLEC02070’ (unpatented) by having a less vigorous and more compact plant habit than ‘KLEC02070’. Additionally, ‘KLECA07112’ has a blue flower color, while ‘KLEC02070’ has a dark-blue flower color.

‘KLECA07112’ differs from the male parent ‘U 37’ (unpatented) by having a blue flower color, while ‘U 37’ has a violet flower color.

‘KLECA07112’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘Dancalmidblu’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,123) by having a blue flower color, while ‘Dancalmidblu’ has a violet-blue flower color. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant as shown and described herein. 